Silent Heat applied for the grant under the auspices of the Interfaith Council of Manchester.  The mission of Silent Heat  is to provide free firewood and a "safety box" to people in our immediate area who are just above the welfare or BROC line, those who have been recently laid off, fired, all urgent need folks.  Silent Heat  provides a full cord of wood and a "safety box" which contains a Tunda fire extinguisher from First Alert.   A smoke alarm with battery, a soot stick, 211 information, and information from the state fire marshal on safety tips are also provided.

In 2008, Silent Heat supplied wood and safety boxes to nine families.  Seventy-five percent of the wood has gone to single mothers with kids, living in trailers, the rest to young families affected by recent layoffs. The plan for 2009 is to amass 80 cord of wood with "safety cans" and expand the area to cover Landgrove and Peru.  In 2009 they will offer help to 5 different towns in the Stratton Foundation service area including; Manchester, Arlington, Dorset, Sunderland, and Danby.

The planned expansion for next year is the "safety can" for 100 homes, up from 40 boxes; more than doubling the supply of cords of wood from 40 to 100 cords.  Partnerships with local people who will let Silent Heat harvest wood from their land will be established   For 2008 there were seven partners and eight more are set to work with Silent Heat in the spring. 

Mark Tucci (front) with Doug Ackert, Jim Lacoste, and Sam Binace.  These men work together to make wood possible for people in need of heat.  

The donation of wood is meant to be an assistance, not a total means of heat for the winter.  Equally important is the inclusion of safety materials and safety information into the home.  The introduction of safety boxes will increase responsible use of wood heat.

Contact Information
Mark Tucci (email Mark at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you want to help or need wood.)
Executive Director
Silent Heat
P.O. Box 854
Manchester Ctr., VT  05255

Mark Tucci - photo left - is shown with wood that is already ready for the 2009-10 heating season.  More will be cut soon.